“Children with celiac or inflammatory bowel diseases may have difficulty absorbing several vitamins and minerals, especially iron, zinc and vitamin D. This is because these diseases cause damage to the areas of the gut that absorb micronutrients,” she wrote.

Dealing with picky eaters

Picky eating can also be a reason parents choose supplements.

“One study in 937 kids ages three to seven found that picky eating was strongly associated with low intakes of iron and zinc,” Streit continued. “Still, the results indicated that blood levels of these minerals were not significantly different in picky compared to non-picky eaters.”

And even if you have a picky eater and add supplements to the mix, Nielsen cautioned that this does not mean the child now has a healthy diet.

“Supplements can not completely make up for a poor diet. Instead, supplements can help prevent nutrient deficiencies that might arise from poor diet,” she continued. The ideal would always be to improve the nutrient density of a child’s diet, perhaps using supplements as a bridge.”

“Children who don’t get enough vitamin D may not grow as much as others their age. They also have a chance of getting a rare disease called rickets, which causes weak bones,” HealthLink B.C. added.

“Talk with your doctor about how much and what sources of supplements are right for your child. Although breastfed babies get the best possible nutrition, they do need vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D for babies is usually a liquid supplement that you add to a bottle of breast milk with a dropper or drip into your baby’s mouth,” the site added.

Getting enough vitamins

Nielsen said that when shopping for supplements, it’s important to do your homework.

“It’s important to look beyond marketing to assess whether the product contains meaningful amounts of the vitamins and minerals you are looking for,” she told Global News. “Compare brands. More is not always best, but you want to ensure that the supplement is going to make a dent in their daily intake needs.”

A quick Google search will show you the amount a child needs depending on their age.

But “supplementing” a child’s diet with food may be the best way to go.

“For example, seeds such as chia and hemp are high in omega-3 fatty acids — minerals that kids might not get if they don’t love eating legumes or meats,” she said. “I add seeds to smoothies, oatmeal and baking, and my kids are happy to eat them. Pureeing vegetables into soups and sauces and smoothies is another way to improve intake of important vitamins and natural antioxidants.”